Restaurant Etiquette

A few days ago, we decided to go out to dinner. This can be tricky, so we usually let AJ have some say in where we go. Some places are too loud, some too bright, some too small, some have no good choices for him, etc. So, he picked one of his favorites.

We go to the restaurant, and there is a wait. Luckily, it was a small wait and all was well.

Then, we got our table. Next to an entire soccer team of 10 year olds. All boys, and all loud!! Really, really loud. That was to be expected, there were like 15-20 kids. It's going to be loud. NT kids socialize. We get that, and we, including AJ, were dealing with it. Then the running around started. The parents of these children were sitting at a different table, and didn't even once look up, and ask them to behave appropriately.

These kids ran around, bumped into wait staff, threw food, yelled, pushed, and did everything that you are basically not supposed to do in a restuarant.

It made me think of all the times, when AJ was having a tantrum, that people said to me "Can't you control your kid?" Well, obviously, we are doing a hell of a lot better than these people were doing. And let me just say, that if that behavior is what passes for "normal", they can have it.

My little family sat there with our ears plugged, AJ crawled onto my lap and rocked, and we just hoped they would leave soon.

So, I wanted to ask these families "Can't you control your kids?!?"